Chapter 34 Mercer
Chapter thirty-four
Mercer
Iput in an urgent message to the shift supervisor the second I returned to my bedroom.
In all my years volunteering for Better Yet, I’ve never called out or been late for a shift. The work is too important, the mission too close to my heart. But tonight, there’s a dominant purpose that needs my attention.
The supervisor directed me to clear my queue, then took me offline for the night.
After I finish my last call, I frantically type out the notes, torn between doing the job I’m committed to do and getting out there as fast as I can.
The sound of the front door opening does nothing to soothe my frantic, spiraling thoughts.
As I click submit on the first report, I rip off my headset and rise to my feet.
“Noah? Is she with you?”
“She’s here,” he yells. “She’s safe.”
I slump into my chair and force myself to breathe.
Like hell she’s safe. She won’t be safe until she’s filed a fucking restraining order against Tytus Tremblay.
There’s no way he isn’t at the heart of this.
He’s broken her in the most predictable ways. Isolating her. Controlling her. Making her think she doesn’t have a choice, when Noah and I are both right fucking here, begging her to let us take care of her.
He’s a menace.
I hate him with everything I am, and if I have my way, he’ll never interfere in Sawyer’s life again.
Not that I have the first inclination how to keep him away. I rise and pace the room, my heart hammering against the hollow cavity of my chest.
I don’t know how to do this.
I don’t know how to beg and hold out hope while preserving my well-being, while maintaining the carefully constructed walls I’ve erected around my heart.
I wouldn’t accept this sort of behavior from anyone else. It’s disrespectful on the surface; it’s rotten at its core.
But for her, I’ll bend every rule.